Can making machine



Oct. 22, 1946. L. L. JoNEs CAN MAKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May e, 1941 Y 0a. l2.2, 1946.

L.. L. JONES 2,409,631

CAN MAKING MACHINE Filed May 6., 1941 5 Sheets-*Sheet 2 INVENTOR mi. 22, 1945. 'L L, JONS `:2,409,631

CAN MAKING MACHINE Filed Mays. 1941 s sheets-sheet s 47 /gf /zf /zi l/ 1/ Patented Oct. 22, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAN MAKING MACHINE Lyman L. Jones, Seattle, Wash., assigner to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 6, 1941, Serial No. 392,131

7 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to container or can making machines and has particular reference to conveying and simultaneously stacking sheet material blanks from which can parts subsequently are produced.

In the manufacture of certain can parts which are made preferably from fiat blanks, the latter usually are cut from large sheets of material in a machine designed for this purpose. The blanks are removed manually from the machine and are arranged in a stack. This stack then is deposited by hand in a magazine of another machine from which they are fed individually for the performance of one or more operations incident to forming them into can parts.

The instant invention contemplates the automatic stacking of such blanks as they leave the first operation machine and the conveying of the stacks so formed, into place inthe magazine of the subsequent operation machine.

Anobj ect therefore of the invention is the provision of a stacking and conveying mechanism wherein blanks of sheet material are piled one on top of the other to produce a stack of such blanks and the stack is conveyed into position in a subsequent operation machine so that immediate feeding of the blanks through the machine may be effected without manually handling them.

Another object is the provision of such a mechanism wherein the blanks progressively are ar" ranged. into` a stack while being conveyed toward the subsequent operation machine and the completed stack is deposited in a magazine of the subsequent operation machine so that individual blanks may be fedv from the magazine as desired.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the apparatus embodying the instant invention, with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken substantially along the broken line 2--2 in Fig.. l, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail taken sub stantially along the longitudinal'line 3 3 in Fig.

1, with parts broken away; l

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional detail taken substantially along the line 4 4 in Fig. 2, with parts broken away;

Fig. 5. is an enlarged transverse section taken substantially along the line 5,-5 in Fig. 2, with parts broken away;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation as viewed from the right in Fig. 5, with parts broken away;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged: transverse section taken substantially along the line 1-1 in Fig. 1, With parts broken away; and

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are enlarged fragmentary sectionalviews taken substantially along the broken line 8-8 in Fig. 5, the different views showing the moving parts in different positions, and showing blanks of sheet material being arranged into stacks. V

As a preferred embodiment of the instant invention, the drawings illustrate a stacking and conveying mechanism A (Fig. l) interposed between and connecting with a sheet slitting machine B and a can body making machine C. The slitting machine B is of the usual character utilized in can making practice, such as the machine disclosed in United States Patent 1,868,707, issued July 26, 1932, to John M. Hothersall.

In such a slitting machine sheets D of tin plate or the like sheet material are conveyed across a table 2| between a pair of guide rails 22 and are fed into the grip cf a plurality of upper and lower rotary cutters 23. The cutters are mounted on a cross shaft 24 journaled in bearings 2,5 secured to the table 2 I. The shaft is rotated in any suitable manner such as for example, by a sprocket 26 and chain 2l.

As the sheet D passes between the rotating cutters 23 it is cut along lines of severance E and this divides the sheet into a plurality of fiat rectangular blanks F from which can bodies are subsequently produced. The flat blanks F imme diately advance into the stacking and conveying mechanism A. In this mechanism the blanks are shifted sidewise (toward the left as viewed in Fig. l) along a path of travel which is disposed preferably at right angles to the direction in which they entered the device.

During this travel of the blanks F, they are piled one on top of the other to form a stack of blanks. Such a stack moves along the sidewise path of travel and is deposited into a magazine 3l of the can body making machine C. The can body making machine may be a conventional body makerP such as that disclosed in United States Patent 1,77 0,041, issued July 8, 1930, to J. F. Peters.

In such a can body making machine, the stack of blanks F are retained in the magazine 3l by a plurality of vertical guide posts 32 which are secured to the machine main frame. The blanks are fed individually from the bottom of the magazine in the usual manner, as for example, by a rocker arm 33 having a suction cup 34 which draws the blanks down from the magazine.

The stacking and conveying mechanism A now will be explained in more detail. The severing of the blanks F from the sheet D leaves the edges of the blanks with a slight burr and it is desirable to eliminate these burrs as much as possible beforev the blanks enter the stacking mechanism. This is to prevent the blanks from being scratched.

3 This elimination of the burrs is effected preferably by cooperating upper and lower edge flattening or ironing-out rollers 4|, 42 (Figs. 1, 5 and 6) between which the newly cut edges of the blanks pass.

There are a plurality of the upper rollers 4|, as many in fact as there are lines of severance E. Such rollers are located in alignment with the longitudinal edges of the blanks being eut and these rollers are formed on a roller shaft 43 which is parallel with the cutter shaft 24. The ends of the roller shaft are journaled in a pair of spaced bearings 44 formed in brackets 45 secured to a side of a bed block 46 which constitutes the main frame of the stacking and conveying mechanism. This bed block is bolted to the frame 2| of the slitterB.

The roller shaft 43 is rotated continuously by an endless chain 48. The chain operates over a driving sprocket 49 which is carried on the cutter shaft 24 and over a driven sprocket 5| which is mounted on the roller shaft. The lower rollers 42 individually are mounted on short pivot pins 55 carried in brackets 56 bolted to the bed block 46. There are a plurality of these lower rollers 42 and they are located directly below but not quite touching the upper rollers 4|.

Hence as the blanks F leave the cutters 23, the severed edges of the blanks pass between the flattening or deburring rollers 4|, 42. This smooths or presses the burrs so that they are ironed out flat.

In order to effect this burr flattening operation with the best results, the cut edges are separated by a slight space during the time the blanks are passing between the rollers 4I, 42. This is brought about by temporarily bowing or bending the blanks into an arch shape by bowing rollers 58 (Fig. 6) which are located between the lower flattening rollers 42. These bowing rollers are slightly larger in diameter than the flattening rollers and are mounted on pivot pins 59 carried in brackets 6| bolted to the bed block 46.

The flattening rollers 4|, 42 while eliminating the burr on the blank edges, also advance the blanks into the stacking and conveying mechanism proper. The momentum of the entering blanks, as they leave the flattening rollers, carries them across the top of the bed block 46 and into position against a stop plate 65 (Figs. l and which is bolted to the bed block. This plate locates the blanks for further cross feeding.

The blanks F thus far advanced are received -in pockets or compartments 66, 61 which are set oil by two sets of overlying vanes or shingles 68, 69 (see also Fig. 8) which are arranged in two spaced rows extending longitudinally of the bed block. The shingles 68 are immediately adjacent the flattening rollers while the shingles 69 are located nearer the stop plate 65.

The shingles 69 are disposed in an inclined position, sloping with the high end toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 1. The lower end of each shingle is secured to the bed block by flat head bolts 'Il (Figs. 1 and 5) which are threaded into nuts disposed in a pair of spaced and parallel T slots '|2 formed in the bed block. Near the middle, the shingle is provided with a transverse supporting member 13 (Fig. 8) which is secured to the bottom of the shingle and which rests on the top of the bed block. This member holds the shingle in its inclined position so that its upper end will overlap the lower end of the next adjacent shingle and' leave a space or pocket 67. The support member '13 also provides a stop element adjacent 4 the lower end of the next adjacent shingle to block off the lower end of the pocket.

The length of the shingles 69 is substantially twice the wi-dth o-f the blanks F. It follows therefore that a full one half of the shingle overlaps the next shingle so that the dimension of the underlying pocket 6l from the stop member 'i3 to the upper edge of the shingle is just the right length to receive the width of a blank F, as shown in Fig. 8. The inner edge of each shingle 69 is cut away in a pair of spaced notches 'I4 (Fig. 1). This forms a lip l5 between them. This lip is bent down into a recess in the bed block 46 (as shown in Fig. 5) and provides a beveled surface to facilitate entrance of a blank F into a pocket 6l.

The shingles 68 which are disposed adjacent the edge flattening rollers 4|, 42 are also disposed on an angle to correspond with the inclined position of the shingles 69 so that an entering blank may pass readily from one to the other. These shingles 68 are secured to the bed block 46 by flat head screws 16 (Figs. 1 and 5) which are threaded into nuts disposed in a T slot Vl formed in the bed block.

The inner edge of each shingle 68 is also notched out to form a lip 18 which however is not bent down but extends into close position adjacent the lower flattening rollers 42 and the bowing rollers 58. The width of the lip of the shingle is substantially less than the width of the blank.

Hence as the leading edge of a bowed blank leaves the flattening and bowing rollers, the raised or bowed por-tion of the blank comes into overlapping position relative to the lip 1S of the adjacent shingle. As the blank continues to move under the advancing action of the flattening rollers its leading edge rides up on the shingle lip and is deflected by the lip into an angular position which corresponds to the angularity of the shingles. It is this deflection of the blank that directs it into position into a shingle pocket 66 as the blank is propelled by the ilattening rollers and from this pocket into the aligning and adjoining pocket 67 of the shingles 69.

The angularly disposed blanks F in the pockets 66, 6l and between the shingles 68, 69 next are shifted side-wise or longitudinally of the bed block 46. 'Ihis is toward the left as Viewed in Figs. 1 and 2. Such a sidewise movement effects the stacking of the blanks, as hereinbefore mentioned. This side-wise shifting of the blanks is brought about preferably by a pair of spaced and parallel feed bars 8| one being disposed on each longitudinal side of the row of shingles 69. The feed bars are located within deep slide grooves 82 formed in the bed block 46.

The feed bars 8| are reciprocated in unison through a forward or blank stacking stroke `and thence through a return stroke. For this purpose the feed bars are secured to a tie bracket 84 (Fig. 4) which extends across the bottom of the bed block and which projects through horizontal slots 85 formed in the block. Adjacent each feed bar, the tie bracket is formed with a depending lug 81 (see also Fig. 2) which carries a roller B8. The two rollers operate in runway grooves 89 formed in the outer edges of a support block 9| secured to the bottom of the bed block. The rollers thus vertically support the feed bars and provide easy sliding movement for them with a minimum of friction.

An actuating plate 93 is bolted to the lugs 8l and this plate is formed with a depending actuating lug 94. This lug carries a pivot pin 95 on `which the inner end cfa-link S6 ismounted. 'The outer end of the link is mounted on -apivot` stud 91 (Figs. 1 and 2) which iscarried eccentrically on a'crank disc 98 mounted ona `short shaft 199 vjournaled in a bearing IIlI `formed in-albracket I|l2 secured to the bed block 4E.

The shaft 99 .carries asprocket "m3 `which -is rotated continuously by an endless lchain IM. The chain operates over this sprocket rand over a driving sprocket H15 mounted on a vdrive 'shaft |06 journaled in a suitable bearing formed inthe brackeltE. This drive shaft may be rotated 'in any 4sui-table manner in time with-theotherlmov- 4ing par-ts of the apparatus.

Hence the rotating drive shaft IUS, through-the sprocket `and chain connection, revolves the short shaft A"3Q and the crank-disc 98. Rotationof the crank disc reciprocatesthe link 916 and thus slides the tie plate 84 and the feedbars `Ill `mounted thereon, back and forth-through thev forward and return strokes,:hereinbeforementioned Reciprocation ofthe feed bars BI, brings into lplay .a plurality of feeder blank stacking dogs II I (Figs. 2 and 8). These dogs are located iwithin vthe slide grooves 82 and are loosely connected to the feed bars. There are a pluralityof the feed dogs III, one being located in each feed .bar for each stacking shingle 169. They are vspaced at suitable intervals along .the length of the bars. `Each feed dog preferably is formed as a long, `substantially horizontal lever .arm having, .atflts'forward end, ani-upright legI i2 which terminates in a hook I I3.

The opposite end of the lever arm o'f eachfeed `dog III is formed with a `depending tail leg IIE `which terminates infal round head IE6. dach head is disposed in va circular socket Il'l `formed in the top edge of thefeedbar. `Where the lever arml joins with the tail legof Ithe feed dog a hole IIS (see Fig. 5) is'cu-t through the dog. A compression spring I I9 is located inlthis opening and is interposed between apair of friction discs IZI. The spring presses the -discs outwardly against the side wall surfaces of the 'bed'bleck d6 `adjacentthe interior walls of the slide grooves '82 and this provides a pivotal mounting for the dog 4and! a friction hold within the block. i

When the feed b-arsl move through `a return stroke, the feed dogs IIIiremain in the lposition shown in Fig. 8, with ythe upright leg. I I2 of each dog resting on the top edge of lthe moving feed bar and the hook `I I3 is below thecorresponding blank Fin the pockets 66, "El `of the shingles Y68, 69. However, the linger .moves bodily `with the bar and the friction plates I2.I slide along the bed block surfaces or side walls of the slide groove 82.

When the feed bars come .to rest at the end of the return stroke, .the hooks II3 of the several upright legs I I2 of the feed dogs are located just behind the rear or lower edge of the several individual blanks F disposed in their shingle pockets 61. It is during this return stroke of the feed bars that the blanks move into the pockets.

The feed bars 8I immediately begin to move through a forward or feeding stroke. The first part of the forward movement of .the feed bars does not advance the dogs III but'only rocks them upwardly (as shown in Fig. 9) about the friction plates I2I which serve as pivots for such a rocking motion. This rocking of the dogs lifts their forward ends out of the slidegrooves 82.

The lifting of a dog III first brings its hook I I3 intoengagement with the bottom of the blank next above in the pocket 5l. yThishook end en- :feed barsl. Lward, its forward edge passes beyond the front 'edgeiof the shingle andboth blank and the hook .the full .timerof `the forward stroke.

`.tion plates I2Islide alonglthe'bed iblock surfaces `adjacent `the slide grooves and permit this -forblanks.

A.gages the forward edge `of such a blank and raises it until lit strikes against the bottom of the overlying .shingle 69 as shown in Fig. 9. This `engagement arrests `further upward-movementl of `the dog at that `time and the dogmoves forward with the blank under the action of the Amoving However, as theblankslides forend of the dog continue to'rise up `further for The fricward movement of the dogs as well as their slight .rocking movement.

.and behind the rear edge of the `next forward blank, as shown in Fig. `9. rHence it is only a moment after the feed dogs begin to move forward with `the feed bars that the upright legs I I2 .of thedogs are at a sufficient elevation so that the hook endsare Vabove the adjacent blank or Afterengagement the legs of the dogs slide the `blank orblanks up the incline of the shingle on which it or they rest as shown in Fig. v10.

The blank .or blanks are thus shftedthe --width of .the blank with each forward stroke ofthe .feed bars. :Such a distance of travel slides ythe .blank entirely `out of its pocket `61 and Aleaves it positionedon the overhangng forward exposed half of the shingle.

Following each advance movement, the *feed bars SI retreat through their return stroke Aand other features will now `be observed. At the beginning of this return stroke,` the dogs move back with the feed bars until the hooks I I3 `a-reclear of the advanced blank or blanks whereupon the lfriction plates I2I again -provide suflcient holding power to rock the dogs. This rocking movement againbrings vthe entire dog down into its slide groove 82 and as the dogs-thereupon'move back, theyl clear the advanced blanks. This prevents carrying the blanks back with the feed bars.

`It will nowbe observed `that as the 'first blank F (at the right Fig. 1) is cut from the sheet D it lands on the lowerhalf of its shingle. At the same time all of the blanks which are cut at that time also land on the lower halves of their respective shingles. Before the next sheet is cut, however, the feed bars 8| move through a forward vor feeding stroke. During this feeding stroke, the feed dogsl I I move up against the cut blanks F as hereinbefore mentioned and lift them into engagement with the under surfaces of their respective shingles and thereafter slide them along the shingles and ldeposit them upon the upper halves of the shingles. This leaves the lower `halves of the shingles free to receive the next --group of blanks.

During the return stroke of the feed bars 8|, the next sheet is cut, and the cut blanks F are deposited on the cleared lowerhalves of the shingles. The second cut blanks are thus located along side the first cut blankson the same shingle and are also disposed directly under the first cut blanks l.on a preceding shingle. This return stroke is followed by a second feed stroke of the feed bars.

The second forward movement of the feed Abars again brings the dogs III against the second cut blanks andV lifts them up into engagement with the under surfaces of the shinglesanduslidesthese second cut blanks and the rst out blanks on the upper halves of the preceding shingles onto the upper halves of their respective shingles, but at this time each blank excepting the first or end blank, moves under the previously fed blank as such blank advances in unison therewith. Fig. 10 shows how this is done, the lowermost or last fed blank engaging under the blank next above as soon as its forward edge clears the forward upper edge of the shingle.

Each subsequent feeding movement in addition to clearing the lower halves of the shingles while bringing the newly fed blanks under the previously fed blanks also transfers all of the blanks on the upper half of each shingle onto the upper half of the shingle just ahead. Each blank, therefore is on the lower end of a shingle only once, but in the case of one of the blanks it will be successively moved over the upper ends of all of the shingles which carry blanks. This will be further explained.

In the drawings the sheet D is shown as being cut into ve blanks and there are shown ve pockets 61, one for each blank. These ve pockets are located at the lower ends of ve double length shingles, there being a half shingle at the end which forms a top for the first pocket.

After the mechanism gets into operation, the blank which has just come into the first pocket, i. e., on the lower end of the second shingle, is advanced to the top of the second shingle. On the next forward stroke of the feed bars, the blank which has just come into the second pocket and the previously fed blank on the upper end of the second shingle are both advanced to the top of the third shingle. This makes two stacked blanks on this third shingle. On the next forward stroke the blank which has just come into the third pocket and the two blanks on the top of the third shingle are advanced to the fourth shingle, thus making a stack of three blanks on the fourth shingle.

Thus the stacking progresses, the number of the blanks on the upper end of the last or sixth shingle being five. Thus it will be seen that after the stacks are built up, there will be two blanks on the upper half of the third shingle, three on the fourth, four on the fifth and five on the sixth, each time such stacks are advanced.

During this progressive blank stacking operation the blanks as deposited on the top of the shingles, are retained in place by pressure fingers (Figs. 5, 8, 9 and 10). There are a plurality of these fingers located in pairs above the feed bars 8| and disposed adjacent the upper ends of the shingles. There is one pair of fingers for each shingle. These fingers are mounted on pivot studs |26 which are threaded into longitudinal support bars |21 which extend along and above the bed block 45. The ends of the bars carry cross rods |28 (see Figs. 1 and 2) which extend out beyond the bars and are supported in brackets |29 secured to the bed block and to the stop plates 65.

The bottom surfaces of the respective pressure fingers |25 are rounded to permit the blanks to glide thereunder on each advancement. Adjacent this rounded surface, each finger is formed with a stop notch |32 (Fig. 8) against which the forward edges of the blanks engage at the end of the forward travel. The fingers |25 are held down against the uppermost of a stack of blanks by compression springs |34. These springs are interposed between a flat seat |35 formed in the linger and a nat retaining plate I36 which is se- 8 cured to the top of the support bars in overhanging relation therewith.

As each stack of five blanks is deposited on the upper end of the sixth shingle 69, the stack thereafter is handled as a unit and is advanced in a step-by-step fashion toward the magazine 3| of the can body making machine C, hereinbefore explained. These stacks of blanks are advanced along a runway |4| (Figs. 1, 2 and 7) which includes a pair of spaced and parallel support rails |42 on which the blanks rest. These rails are tied together by a bottom plate |43. Side plates |44 are secured to the support rails to guide the blank stacks and to prevent endwise shifting of the blanks.

The stacks of blanks are advanced along the runway |4| by a pair of reciprocating auxiliary feed bars |41 having a plurality of spaced and parallel spring held feed dogs |48 located therein. These feed bars are mounted on a pair of transverse tie-brackets |5| located near the ends of the bars. The brackets have depending lugs |52 which extend down adjacent the feed bars and which carry support rollers |53. The rollers operate in horizontal grooves |54 cut in the outer side walls of a pair of groove blocks |55 which are secured to the bottom tie-plates |43.

The feed bars |41 are also retained against sidewise shifting. For this purpose each tiebracket |5| carries a roller |51 which is located near the middle of the bracket. These rollers operate in a groove |58 which is formed in the top of the groove blocks |55.

The auxiliary feed bars |41 are reciprocated in synchronism with the stacking feed bars 8 I. This is brought about by a link |6| (see also Fig. 3). One end of the link is carried on a pivot pin |62 which is secured in an upright lug |53 formed on the forward tie-bracket |5I. The opposite end of the link is mounted on a pivot pin |64 which is secured in a lug |65 formed on a cross bar |56 which is bolted to the forward ends of the stacking feed bars 8l.

Hence when the stacking feed bars 8| reciprocate, the auxiliary feed bars |41 also reciprocate and thus the stacks of blanks are advanced along the support rails |42 in a step-by-step movement. Spring held stop ngers G8 are provided in the top of the support rails to engage behind an advanced stack of blanks and to prevent its being carried back with the auxiliary feed bars on their return stroke. Pressure bars |69 are also provided to frictionally engage against the top blanks in the stacks to prevent their vertical displacement. These pressure bars are carried on cross rods |1| which are located adjacent the ends of the bars. The ends of the rois are supported in the blank side guide plates |4 In order to properly deposit a stack of the blanks into the magazine 3| when the forward stack reaches the outer end of the runway |4|, the runway is made hingeable. The magazine end of the runway may rise and fall with the stack of blanks in the magazine by reason of this construction. For this purpose the runway is hinged to the bed Iblock 46 on pivot studs |15 (Fig. l). The studs extend through bracket arms |16 (see also Fig. 2) formed on the inner bottom plate |43 and these studs are threaded into lugs |11 formed on a bracket |18 which is bolted to the bedblock 4B. An arm |19 having a counterbalance weight |8| at its outer end, is bolted to an auxiliary bottom plate |82. The weight |8| is arranged on the arm to balance the weight of the entire runwayA |4| with its stacks of blanks.

The magazine end of the run carries a foot |84 which is bolted to a vertical boss |85 formed on an extension |86 of the outer bottom plate |43. This foot rests on top of the stack of blanks in the magazine and thusl maintains the runway at a predetermined level with the top level of the blanks in the magazine. The counterbalance weight IB! may be adjusted. to relieve the weight of the runway and the pressure of the foot |34 from the blanks in the magazine.

With this construction of runway each stack of ve blanks as it rides off the end of the runway, slides under the foot |84 and is guided into place in the magazine 3|. The light pressure of the foot on the blanks thus permits easy insertion of the blanks which pass under the foot and thus become a part of the stack of blanks in the magazine.

When the magazine is empty or when the blanks in the magazine move down below a predetermined level the forward end of the runway is prevented from moving down too far by a stop foot |89 which is secured to the front end of the runway. This foot engages against the top of the body making machine.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will 'be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

l. In a can making machine, the combination of a plurality of spaced inclined vanes for receiving can part blanks, andV longitudinally reciprocating feeding devices continuously operative adjacent said vanes for successively advancing the received blanks from the lower portion of one vane to the upper portion of said vane and thence into superposed position upon the upper portion of an adjacent vane, whereby to ultimately arrange the blanks into a, single vertical stack at a still succeeding vane.

2. In a can making machine, the combination cf a plurality of spaced relatively inclined overlapping vanes setting off pockets for receiving can part blanks, and longitudinally reciprocating feeding devices continuously operative adjacent said vanes for successively feeding the received blanks from said pockets and for progressively advancing the blanks from the lower portion of one vane to the upper portion of said vane and thence into superposed position upon the upper portion of an adjacent vane, whereby to finally arrange the blanks into a single vertical stack at a still succeeding vane of said plurality.

In a can making machine, the combination of a plurality of spaced parallel inclined and overlapping vanes arranged to set off pockets for receiving can part blanks, each of said vanes constituting a wall portion of at least one of said pockets, and a plurality of feed fingers respec-4 tively movable adjacent said vanes for successively shifting the blanks from the lower portion of one of said vanes to the upper portion thereof while simultaneously transferring the blanks on the upper portion of said vane onto the immediately succeeding vane, thereby stacking the blanks in superposed relation on adjacent vanes.

4. In a can making machine, the combination of a series of spaced parallel inclined and overlapping vanes arranged in a row and setting olf aligned pockets for receiving can part blanks, the intermediate vanes of said series each constituting a wall portion of one of said pockets and another wall portion of an adjacent pocket, and a plurality of feed lingers respectively movable adjacent said ro-w of vanes for successively shifting the blanks from the lower portion of one of said vanes to the upper portion thereof while simultaneously transferring the blanks from the upper portion of said vane to the immediately adjacent vane, whereby to stack the blanks on said vanes so that the number of blanks in the stacks increases progressively from one end of the row to the other, and auxiliary feeding devices for advancing the maximum stack further along a predetermined path of travel.

5. In a can making machine, the combination of a plurality of spaced and overlapping inclined vanes, the lower portion of each vane constituting a wall of a pocket partially defined by another vane, means for feeding can part blanks into said pockets, and a reciprocating feeding device having a plurality of feed lingers thereon operative between feeding actions of said feeding means for successively shifting the blanks by means of said feed fingers respectively engageable with a blank in each of said pockets, from the pockets to upper portions of said vanes while simultaneously transferring blanks from the upper portions of said vanes to the immediately adjacent vane just ahead and thence from vane to vane, thereby arranging the blanks in progressively increasing vertical stacks in the successive pockets defined by said vanes.

6. In a can making machine, the combination of a plurality of spaced and overlapping inclined vanes, the lower half of each vane constituting the bottom wall of a pocket the upper wall of which consists o-f the upper half of an adjacent vane, means for feeding can part blanks into said pockets, a reciprocating feed bar operative adjacent said vanes for shifting the blanks from their pockets to the upper portions of the vanes constituting the bottom walls of the respective pockets, and a plurality of frictionally held rocking feed dogs movable by said feed bar, said feed dogs when rocked lifting ablank in a said pocket while engaging against an edge of a blank in the next advanced pocket and also against an edge of other blanks on the upper halves of said vanes for arranging the blanks into progressively increasing verti-cal stacks while intermittently advancing them along said vanes.

7. In a can making machine, the combination of a plurality of spaced parallel inclined and overlapping vanes arranged to set off aligned pockets for receiving can part blanks, a portion of each of said vanes extending away from one of its associated pockets for receiving a blank when moved from said pocket, a plurality o-f feed lingers respectively movable adjacent said vanes for successively shifting the blanks from a pocket to the upper portion of its associated vane while simultaneously transferring the blanks from the upper portion of said vanes onto the upper portions of an immediately adjacent vane, thereby stacking the blanks one on top of the other on adjacent vanes, and pressure arms pivotally mounted above said vanes for holding the blanks against vertical displacement.

vLYMAN L. JONES. 

